On the 3rd April the first President of Kalmykia, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov visited Azerbaijan on an official working visit, where in Baku, a ceremony of signing of the Agreement on cooperation between FIDE and the Chess Federation of Azerbaijan took place. The Head of the World Chess Federation Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation Elmar Rustamov signed a document on cooperation within the framework of the organization of the 2012 Candidates matches.

Mr. Ilyumzhinov said: "The Chess Federation of Azerbaijan has been carrying out a wide range of activities to popularize and develop this sport in their country. FIDE supports Azerbaijan in this direction and the signed document is a testimony of the expansion of the cooperation and organization in this country of various tournaments, together with FIDE­."

The Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan Mr. Azad Ragimov said: "Each year chess schools are opened in Azerbaijan. This is the only country in the world where the Head of the State signed a state document on chess development. We believe that our country has positive chess future. Our player Teimour Radjabov is among ten best players of the world, and he will be a worthy representative of our country at the forthcoming tournament in London."